With the start of the 2018 season less than two months away, the Ragin’ Cajuns baseball team finds itself back in the rankings as the squad was picked No. 18 in the 2018 Collegiate Baseball Preseason Poll, the publication announced on Tuesday.

The Ragin’ Cajuns are coming off of a 2017 season that saw them miss the NCAA regionals for the first time since 2012, but the team returns much of the bullpen and has picked up key additions in the field.

Additionally, senior left-hander Gunner Leger was tabbed a Collegiate Baseball 2018 Pre-Season All-America Second Team selection. The 2017 Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year, Leger posted a 10-2 record with a 1.97 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 91.1 innings pitched. Leger became the first player in program history to be named a Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist.

Louisiana opens the 2018 season with a three-game series at Texas on Feb. 16-18 in Austin, Texas. The Ragin’ Cajuns open the home slate at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field at Russo Park on Feb. 23 in the first of three games against Wright State.